The Internet of Things

I recently attended a fascinating talk given by Rob van Kranenburg, supported by the Pervasive Media Studio, which explored ‘The Internet of Things’.  The concept is that consumer items will have a radio frequency identification tag  (RFID) embedded in them with the result being the creation of a global network of physical objects which can interact with each other.   Known as the ‘internet of things’.

The talk covered a broad range of topics largely related to the consequences of ubiquitous RFID tags on different levels.  At the lowest level the tags have the potential to change how objects interact with one another.  RFID tags would be able to register other tags nearby and carry out a specific action.  As a result, pickpockets would have a much tougher time dipping into bags for wallets because the bags would know when the wallet is missing and action a response.  I’m sure that much smarter ideas than that would be thought up but sadly it’s the best I’ve got.  If it seems unlikely that RFID will be in everything we own then you only have to travel back to 1972 when people were sceptical of the future for barcodes and all of a sudden you realise that it could be on the cards.  At the highest level, apparently it could undercut the institution of government.  A pretty high level then.

Essentially though objects become smart.  The impact of this change would fall hardest on those who grow up in a world where they knew nothing else.  The development of smart objects changes traditional notions of time and space through the empowerment of objects.  We would develop digital relationships with objects which themselves become the agents of actions and are no longer simply objects for us to interact with.

Having sensors that relay information in everything we own, use, wear, touch and play with has some serious implications for privacy.  Where will the information go once it has left the tags?  Could anybody walking down the street stick out an antena that scans passers by, works out where they’ve been and their habits, and then tell the world?  Not great news for the likes of messrs Terry and Cole.  Or will shops use it to work out what we’re going to buy as we walk through the front door and place the relevant adverts right in front of us?

Potentially yes, but as Rob stated there is less chance of manipulation if the algorithms and software in the devices are opened up and made available for all to see.  This would allow developers to produce programmes that could be downloaded to talk back to us from the data that they’re receiving from RFIDs.  This way we could play each other at everyone’s own game and the benefits would be cancelled out.  This way the focus would move to manipulating the devices for social benefits.  Environmental causes would benefit from increased efficiency derived through the constant stream of information that objects feed to each other.  For example, could a clothes tag let a washing machine know it’s dry and stop the cycle early?

RFIDs have the potential to take the internet to the next level through increased levels of connectivity.  Taking the connectivity of the internet and increasing it will deepen many of the trends that are occuring through the power of the world wide web.  And potentially spark some new ones in the process.

Two websites that Rob is heavily involved with shed more light on the issues raised (BRICOLABS & The Internet of Things).  It’s definitely something to keep an eye on and is apparently already on the EU security council’s agenda in some form so must be sort of important.

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